MECA-11454-January-C.. - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Transcription
MECA-11454-January-C.. - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES January/February 2015 Plus! 4 Your Co-op: A Foundation Of Principles 5Co-op Director Election Results 9 Who’s Your Legislator? A Barrel Of Fun: Portable Sauna Is Good Fundraiser, Too WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT Smart homeowners around the world have scrapped their old furnaces and air conditioners and replaced them with a WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system. That’s because WaterFurnace geothermal systems use the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. You won’t need that old inefficient furnace or that unsightly outdoor air conditioner because a WaterFurnace system provides complete comfort for your home with a single unit. And because the system doesn’t burn fossil fuels, there are no fumes or carbon monoxide concerns. Make the smart switch to geothermal. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn more. 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(866) 844-HEAT (4328) (231) 873-2665 Lapeer Porter & Heckman (800) 445-4328 Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 Indian River M & M Plbg & Htg (231) 238-7201 Mount Pleasant Walton’s Htg & Clg (989) 772-4822 Sunfield Mark Woodman Plbg & Htg (517) 886-1138 Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg (231) 796-3717 Carsonville Certified Temperature Innovations (810) 300-7748 visit us at waterfurnace.com ©2014 WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. Traverse City Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231) 943-1000 D&W Mechanical (231) 941-1215 UPPER PENINSULA Kinross Great Lakes Services Inc. (906) 632-5543 Manistique Hoholik Enterprises (906) 341-5065 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES January 2015 Vol. 35, No. 1 Executive Editor Casey Clark IN THIS ISSUE Editor Gail Knudtson 6 Publisher Michigan Electric Cooperative Association HOME COOKING Try A New Flavor By Eating Ethnic Christin McKamey & Our Readers Design and Layout Ciesa Design Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591710, is published monthly, except 7 August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Okemos, MI, and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric OUR ENERGY Electric Capacity Shortfall Predicted For 2016 Craig Borr Cooperative Association, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, 10 Cloverland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy, Ontona- FEATURE tors. Subscriptions for nonmembers A Barrel Of Fun: Upper Peninsula Sauna Co. are $6 per year. Neil Moran gon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of direc- POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS. Letters to the editor should be sent to Country Lines, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Phone 517-9133531. Email: [email protected]. Association officers are Ken Swope, 13 SAFETY 14 READERS’ PAGE Midwest Energy, chairman; Robert Schallip, Cloverland, 1st vice chairman; Jon Zickert, Cherryland, 2nd Powering Up: How Power Gets Restored After An Outage vice chairman; Eric Baker, Wolverine Power, secretary-treasurer; and Tony Anderson, Cherryland, past chairman. Craig Borr is president and CEO. Unsolicited letters, photos and manuscripts are welcome. Country Lines, however, will not be responsible for their safe keeping or return. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. Change of Address: Please notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information. Jack’s Journal: Snowmobile Trails & Vintage Museum; Mystery Photo ON THE COVER* Zeak DeWyse is a builder and electric co-op member who has started a new business making portable, barrel saunas. Called the U.P. Sauna Company, their cedar saunas are suitable for most any landscape, but are also proving to be a good fundraising draw for charitable causes. Photo—Shawn Malone/lakesuperiorphoto.com Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives countrylines.com MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES | JANUARY 2015 3 Board Of Directors Allan Berg, Vice-Chairman 989-734-0044 1117 E. Heythaler Hwy. Rogers City, MI 49779 Sandy Borowicz 231-627-9220 5341 Carlson Rd. Cheboygan, MI 49721 John F. Brown, Chairman 231-625-2099 21 W. Devereaux Lake Rd. Indian River, MI 49749 Sally Knopf 989-734-4196 1849 W. 638 Hwy. Rogers City, MI 49779 Kurt Krajniak 989-379-3037 7630 Wallace Rd. Alpena, MI 49707 Daryl Peterson, Treasurer 989-742-3145 P.O. Box 54 Hillman, MI 49746 David W. Smith, Secretary 989-785-5345 P.O. Box 180 Atlanta, MI 49709 Robert Wegmeyer 989-379-2311 16181 Beaver Lake Park Rd. Lachine, MI 49753 Raymond Wozniak 989-766-2498 6737 State St. Posen, MI 49776 PRESIDENT & CEO Brian J. Burns [email protected] 4 Your Cooperative: A Foundation of Principles W hat business operating primarily in Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties has invested over $125 million in the area? Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op (PIE&G), of course! What other businesses have made investments of this scale in the areas served by the Co-op? Not many. As owners of this Co-op, you’ve collectively invested over $40 million in equity, which is part of the $125 million noted above. This aspect of cooperatives demonstrates the principle of “members’ Brian J. Burns economic participation”. President & CEO How much did you individually contribute? Call us, and we’ll tell you. Remember that any year the Co-op has a positive margin, it’s “credited” back to members in proportion to the amount of “business” each conducted with the Co-op through their purchases of electricity or natural gas. These positive margins are known as “capital credits,” which are noted on our records as belonging to you, the member-owners. What do we do with these capital credits—your investment? Together with capital borrowed from banks, PIE&G uses it to build the plant that delivers electricity and natural gas to you. Investments are made each year on your behalf, and to best serve you. In 2013, that investment was $3,177,279, and recently, $3,469,000 was authorized for 2015. The board of directors—elected annually by you (see p. 5)—authorizes these investments, and each director serves a three-year term in accordance with the principle of “democratic member control”. Presque Isle Electric Cooperative exists and was founded on such principles as “voluntary and open membership” and “autonomy and independence”, because the Co-op model was needed to bring essential services to rural northeast Michigan. Other utilities would not because the risk to shareholder investments was so high, and the probability of profit so low. These principles were demonstrated once again in 1994 when Presque Isle Electric Cooperative became Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, and your Co-op brought valuable natural gas service to the area. Owned by those we serve, locally controlled, not-for-profit, and committed to community. Your electric and gas co-op is not just another utility! YOUR CO-OP Members Re-elect Three Incumbents, One New Director at 77th Annual Meeting CHEBOYGAN PRESQUE ISLE OTSEGO MONTMORENCY OSCODA John F. Brown A David W. Smith Allan Berg Sandy Borowicz bout 500 people attended Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op’s 77th annual membership meeting at Posen High School on Oct. 24, 2014. “The annual meeting is a perfect example of our cooperative principles in action,” said board chairman John Brown, in his comments to the membership. “Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members. Members have equal voting rights—one member, one vote—and are organized in a democratic manner.” Each year, elections are held for three positions on the board of directors. In 2014, one additional seat became vacant on the board in the Cheboygan District after the sudden passing of director Allen Barr. After all votes were counted, the candidates winning election to three-year terms (2014–2017) were: John F. Brown (incumbent, Cheboygan District); David W. Smith (incumbent, Montmorency District); and Allan Berg (incumbent, Presque Isle District). The Cheboygan District vacancy was won by Sandy Borowicz, for a one-year term (2014–15). During the meeting, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op employees Heather Homan and Taed Price performed a vocal tribute accompanied by a slide show presentation, in remembrance of Director Allen Barr, who served on PIE&G’s board from 1985 to 2014. Dale Yankoviac, of Cheboygan, won the $100 raffle for voting by mail. In other business, members heard reports from the cooperative’s auditor and chief executive officer. Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op provides electricity and natural gas service to approximately 45,000 member-owners in a nine county territory in northeast Michigan. PIE&G has its headquarters in Onaway. Immediately following the meeting, the board of directors held the election of officers, as follows: John Brown, chairman; Allan Berg, vice-chairman; David Smith, secretary; and Daryl Peterson, treasurer. ALPENA ALCONA Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op 19831 M-68 Hwy., P.O. Box 308 Onaway, 49765 Business Office & Billing: 989-733-8515 Toll-free: 800-423-6634 Gas emergency toll-free: 800-655-8565 pieg.com Most PIE&G natural gas rates and charges are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Co-op Principles The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice. Visit touchstoneenergy.com/content/seven-cooperative-principles to learn more details. 1Voluntary and Open Membership 2 Democratic Member Control 3Member Economic Participation Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. 4 Autonomy and Independence 5 Education, Training and Information 6Cooperation Among Cooperatives 7 Concern for Community MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES JANUARY 2015 5 HOME COOKING CHRISTIN McKAMEY EATING ETHNIC Experience distant lands with these flavorful dishes. Moroccan Tagine in Crockpot (pictured) Olive oil 6–8 pieces bone-in or boneless pork or chicken McCormick® Moroccan Seasoning 2½ c. chopped onions ¼ c. finely chopped garlic 1 c. unsalted stock (chicken, pork or vegetable) 1 T. honey 1 cinnamon stick ²⁄³ c. dried apricots, chopped 2 15-oz. cans chickpeas ¼ c. cilantro leaves (optional) Lemon wedges (optional) Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add olive oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle meat with Moroccan seasoning. Add meat to pan and cook 5 minutes until well-browned. Remove from pan and let rest (do not brown the other side). Add extra olive oil if needed, onions and garlic. Sauté for 4 minutes. Add more Moroccan seasoning to taste, cook another minute stirring constantly to loosen browned bits. Add stock, honey and cinnamon stick; bring to a simmer. Carefully pour mixture into crockpot. Stir in apricots and chickpeas. Arrange meat so the browned side is on top of the chickpea mixture. Cover; cook on low for 7 hours. If desired, garnish with cilantro and lemon wedges. Serves great alongside couscous, quinoa or rice. Leann Butler, Wolverine Cream Cheese Kieflies 1 c. real butter 8-ozs. cream cheese 1 egg yolk 2½ c. flour Filling: 2 c. nuts (pecans), ground fine 1 egg white, beaten stiff ½ c. honey 1½ c. powdered sugar Mix all ingredients and shape into teaspoon-size balls. Refrigerate overnight. Take out about 5 from fridge at a time. Roll out until paper thin. Fill each pastry with 1 teaspoon of filling. Roll like a candy kiss and pinch each end. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400° until brown. Barbara Kedik, Dowagiac 6 Congratulations to Patsy Castagne-Miller of Pickford. Her name was drawn from all readers whose recipes we printed in 2014 and Country Lines magazine will pay her January electric bill (up to $200) as a prize. Patsy and her family have been Cloverland Electric Cooperative members for nine years. Besides cooking and creating, she loves the outdoors, and her other hobbies are growing flowers and vegetables. “I love to try new recipes all the time,” she says. “Some people say I can make great soups!” SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE! Thanks to all who send in recipes. Please send in your favorite “Healthy Living” recipes by Jan. 10 and your favorite “Pizza” recipes by Feb. 10. Mail (handwritten or typed on one side, please) to: Country Lines Recipes, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864; or email [email protected]. Contributors whose recipes we print in 2015 will be entered in a drawing and Country Lines will pay the winner’s January 2016 electric bill (up to $200)! Visit countrylines.com for more reader recipes! Photos—831 Creative OUR ENERGY Electric Capacity Shortfall Projected for 2016 H ave you ever wondered why a grocery store builds 15 check-out lanes, but only has three of them open most of the time? Simply put, the store has built its “lane capacity” to meet peak demand, the roughly 10 percent of the year when the store is busiest. Craig Borr, CEO, It works the same way for Michigan Electric Cooperative electricity providers, including your Association electric cooperative. Most of the time there are enough power plants and renewable resources running to meet our member-owners’ needs. At other times, particularly on very hot or cold days, energy needs increase and additional electricity is needed to meet this “peak demand”. Unlike the grocery store, where a capacity shortfall means a longer wait in line, a shortfall in electric capacity can cause the lights to go out. And, it is your electric cooperative’s job to make sure it has the capacity to meet its members’ maximum need at all times. The startling fact, however, is that the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) estimates that Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is facing a 3,000-megawatt (MW) capacity shortfall as early as 2016. The “mitten” needs roughly 15 percent more generating capacity than is currently operating. Ironically, MISO is projecting the Upper Peninsula will actually have a small amount of excess capacity beginning next year. What is causing this projected deficiency, why should you care, and what are electric cooperatives doing to ensure that the lights stay on for you, our member-owners? Who is MISO and why are they projecting a shortfall? MISO is the independent nonprofit grid operator, based in Carmel, IN, that is responsible for operating wholesale electricity markets in both of our peninsulas, much of the Midwest, and parts of Canada. Electric utilities in MISO are required to have enough generating capacity to meet their projected peak needs as well as a 15 percent “reserve” margin each year. Lower Peninsula utilities, MISO warns, will not have adequate generation and reserves, starting in 2016, because of projected growth in electricity sales combined with the closure of many, older coal-fired power plants throughout Michigan and the Midwest that will not meet new air quality standards required by the Environmental Protection Agency. What are electric co-ops doing to meet the projected shortfall? Wolverine Power Cooperative, the Cadillac-based wholesale power supplier to five of Michigan’s nine electric distribution cooperatives, is certainly doing its part. In October 2015, Wolverine announced the development of a new, 400-plus megawatt clean natural gas-fueled electric peaking plant. Located west of Gaylord, it would meet the future needs of Wolverine’s member distribution cooperatives. However, the Lower Peninsula needs nearly seven more plants of this size if it expects to meet MISO’s estimated shortfall. Wolverine is working to obtain necessary approvals from local, state and regional agencies, and if all goes well, construction on the plant could begin later this year. Named the Alpine Generating Plant, Wolverine will use clean natural gas to generate electricity during times of peak demand and to generate energy that complements the ever-increasing amount of intermittent renewable energy in our state. Even more capacity needs to be built soon. I am proud to say that Wolverine is doing its part to meet the future needs of its member cooperatives, as are others, such as municipal electric utilities in Lansing and Holland. But we need more capacity to be built very soon. To learn more about the exciting new Alpine project, visit alpinecleanenergy.com. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES | JANUARY 2015 7 YOUR CO-OP Your Board In Action At their most recent regular meetings, the PIE&G Board of Directors: • Commended Karl Peters for his 42 years of loyal and dedicated service to the cooperative and its members. Karl will retire on Jan. 2, 2015. • Welcomed director Sandy Borowicz (Cheboygan District), elected by the membership to fill a vacancy created by the passing of Allen Barr. • Listened to updates by Wolverine CEO Eric Baker on power supply issues, and to Wolverine CFO Janet Kass explain rate design changes to be filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the impact on PIE&G. • Previewed items to be considered at the Sept. 29 Member Regulation meeting, including a reduction in the Power Supply Cost Recovery factor (PSCR) for 2015. • Approved the 2015 Work Plan (projected capital budget), as follows: $2,847,000 for electric utility plant and $622,000 for natural gas plant, for a total of $3,469,000. • Reviewed and accepted the 2015 Operating Budget and Business Plan as a reasonable forecast for the 2015 fiscal year and as a useful business planning tool for the organization. Welcome to PIE&G’s Newest Team Members (by order of hire) Stephanie Curtis Office Clerk Derek McLennan Assistant Field Representative Toni Neuman Receptionist A.J. Paulus Lineman Apprentice Shawn Curtis Lineman Apprentice Tom Hoffmeyer Lineman Brandon Vizina Associate Accountant MONTHLY DISCOUNTS AND FREE ACTIVATION $10 OFF EVERY BILL FOR 12 MONTHS AND $150 ACTIVATION FEE WAIVED! START A YEAR OF SAVINGS NOW ON HIGH-SPEED RELIABLE Customer Support 24/7 AFFORDABLE Service for about $2 a day SUPER FAST Speeds up to 12 Mbps PROMPT & PROFESSIONAL Installation Exede High Speed Internet lets you enjoy your favorite websites, keep in touch with family and friends, shop online and download your favorite movies, shows and songs the way you want — super-fast! It’s the Internet service that delivers 140% of its advertised speed!* INTERNET For PIE&G member discount, Call 1-888-256-8348 *FCC, 2013 Measuring Broadband America 8 YOUR CO-OP Who’s Your Legislator? A s a guide to help you understand who represents you in the Michigan Legislature, we have listed here all the legislators (both House and Senate) that represent districts that include the Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op service area (see map, below). Whatever their background, most represent districts with large rural populations, which are areas where electric co-ops serve. In fact, several legislators are electric co-op members themselves. There are a total of 44 new members in the Michigan House of Representatives and 10 new members in the Senate. Legislation affecting cooperatives and their owners most likely originates in those committees covering utilities, energy, technology, transportation, environment, land use, safety and taxes. Michigan House of Representatives In the House, Republicans continue to hold the majority, by 63–47. The House district lines are the same, since the redistricting process that occurs every 10 years was established in the last election. Visit house.mi.gov for more information. Rep. Triston Cole 105th District ( 517) 373-0829 Rep. Peter Pettalia 106th District (517) 373-0833 Rep. Lee Chatfield 107th District (517) 373-2629 Michigan Senate In the Senate, Republicans also continue to hold the majority, by 27–11. Unlike the House, the Senate ran for the first time under the new district lines. Visit senate.mi.gov for more information. Sen. Jim Stamas 36th District (517) 373-1791 Sen. Wayne Schmidt 37th District 517-373-2413 Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op Service Area MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES | JANUARY 2015 9 FEATURE NEIL MORAN Zeak DeWyse (standing, far right) has a crew of six local workers that help him handcraft his company's unique barrel saunas. Photo—Shawn Malone/Lake Superior Graphics A Barrel Of Fun: Portable Sauna Is Good Fundraiser, Too I t’s 18 degrees outside. Steam rises from a large hole cut in the middle of Millecoquin Lake. A mixed group of younger and older people are standing around looking like they’re getting ready to go to the beach, except their lips are quivering and their teeth chattering. They’re getting ready to take the “Polar Bear Plunge” challenge to benefit the Engadine Intermediate School District. Luckily, after their plunge, warmth awaits these “polar bears” in what looks like a huge wooden keg resting on its side on the frozen lake. The attractive, cedar-hewn structure is actually a sauna, built by the Upper Peninsula Sauna Company in tiny Engadine, MI. Saunas and polar bear plunges certainly aren’t new in the U.P., but this type of barrel sauna is definitely a novelty that is catching on fast because they are extremely mobile (trailerable) or can be stationary, and fit into most any lifestyle and landscape. The saunas are manufactured by a seasoned crew of builders led by Zeak DeWyse, a local, licensed contractor and owner of DeWyse Construction. A Cloverland Electric Co-op member, DeWyse says he was looking for another source of income that would keep his crew busy when he latched onto the idea of building barrel saunas. “It wasn’t my original idea,” DeWyse says about the sauna’s unique construction. “I saw one for sale on the west end of the U.P.” He also bought a barrel-shaped sauna from a backyard mechanic that he and his building crew used as a prototype. The saunas the DeWyse crew builds are crafted out of cedar felled from the woods near Engadine and sawn in local mills. The Upper Peninsula Sauna Company is a welcome addition to the community and to the employees of DeWyse Construction. DeWyse says it has allowed his workers to stay busy during inclement weather. The company is a part of DeWyse Construction and shares the The cozy barrel sauna holds four adults comfortably and comes with a custom-fabricated woodstove, solar lights, a thermo-hygrometer, water pail, and a cedar spoon. The stove rocks all come from the U.P. same building—a very old one on Main Street—which was vacant for several years. “It’s working out really well that my guys aren’t losing days from their income,” DeWyse explains. “When it rains everybody comes to the shop and we build saunas, so that’s been kind of a gift for our employees.” Supporting local events is nothing new for the DeWyse company. They’re very much involved with the community, especially the schools, and helping other volunteers with fundraisers, parades, and similar events. The saunas are a good draw and have been used to raise funds for different causes. Besides the Polar Bear Plunge, DeWyse recently offered a barrel sauna to anyone who can make a hole-in-one during golf scrambles. The prize is placed on the designated hole. Along with beating the winter blues, DeWyse adds, there are health benefits to taking a sauna, including removing toxins from your body and sweating-out colds, the flu, and sore muscles—and avoiding hypothermia after an icy plunge in a lake! Below: An aerial view of the "Polar Bear Plunge" local school fundraiser. Plunge participants can warm up in the Upper Peninsula Sauna Company's barrel sauna set up at the right of the hole cut into the lake. Photos—Sigurd Utych 11 YOUR CO-OP Cooking Efficiently Helps Control Energy Bills C ooking alone accounts for 4 percent of total home energy use, notes the U.S. Department of Energy, and this estimate doesn’t include the energy costs associated with refrigeration, hot water heating, and dishwashing. Especially when family parties and community potlucks come around, keep these tips in mind to help reduce your energy bill: • Don’t peek. Every time the oven door is opened, the temperature inside is reduced by as much as 25 degrees, forcing it to use more energy to get back to the proper temperature. • Turn it down or turn it off. For regular cooking, it’s probably not necessary to have your oven on as long— or set as high—as the recipe calls for. For recipes that need to bake longer than an hour, pre-heating the oven isn’t necessary. And, residual heat on an electric oven or stovetop will finish the last 5 to 10 minutes of baking time. Just remember to keep the oven door closed or the lid on until the time is up. Alternately, if you’re baking in a ceramic or glass dish (holds heat better than metal), you can typically set your oven for 25 degrees less than the recipe calls for. BIG SCREEN • Give your burners a break. For your stovetop to function effectively, it’s important that the metal reflectors under your electric stove burners stay free of dirt and grime. • Don’t neglect your slow cooker…or your microwave, toaster oven, or warming plate. For example, the average toaster oven can use up to one-half the energy of an average electric stove over the same cooking time. Visit EnergySavers.gov to help you estimate how much energy your appliances use. • Give your furnace the day off. If your next party involves a lot work for your stove, think about turning down your furnace to compensate. The heat of the oven and all those guests will keep the temperature comfortable. • Make contact. Electric stovetops can only transmit heat to pans they are in direct contact with; the less contact your pan has with the burner, the more energy the stovetop will have to expend to heat the pan. If cooking with your warped pan is taking longer than it should, it may be time for a flat-bottomed update. Source: U.S. Department of Energy The Big Game, Series Finales, Awards Season. With the help of your Energy Optimization program, your home will be the place to watch the very best on TV. Go big and save with rebates up to $50 on ENERGY STAR rated TVs. ONLINE: michigan-energy.org PHONE: 877.296.4319 BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST Energy Optimization programs and incentives are applicable to Michigan service locations only. Other restrictions may apply. For a complete list of participating utilities, visit michigan-energy.org. 12 YOUR CO-OP MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES | JANUARY 2015 13 READERS’ PAGE JACK'S JOURNAL Snowmobile Museum, Trails Are Winter Fun D id you know that over 6,500 snowmobile trails run throughout Michigan? To survive winter, you may want to buck-up with boots and a snowsuit to explore some of them. A few phone calls or an easy internet search reveals resorts and sport shops that rent snowmobiles. Once #1 in the country for registered snowmobilers, Michigan now ranks second behind Minnesota. But don’t let that cool your sleds. Bill Manson, of the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSAsnow.org), says the related family time draws folks in and keeps them coming back. “In the early days of snowmobiling, the sport was a ‘guy thing.’ Now, everyone including 1962 Polar the grandparents are out enjoying the woods together.” Higher quality machines are credited with the wider range of people enjoying the sport. Ergonomic seats with warmers, smooth suspensions, and easy handling allows the entire family to ride comfortably, go fast, and have fun. Originally, snowmobiles were designed as work vehicles, says Charlie Vallier of the Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway, MI (on U.S.-2). “Sleds first appeared in Wisconsin around 1924 and were used by utility companies, trappers and commercial fi shermen. Not until the late ’60s did consumers realize they could be used for recreation.” Nostalgia for the old machines runs deep—enough so that the Snowmobile Museum recently expanded. “Throughout winter, enthusiasts can find at least one vintage snowmobile show on the Great Lakes every weekend,” Vallier adds. “People love the old sleds. Seeing them, restoring them, and riding them. They represent a simpler time.” A walk through the Snowmobile Museum is a walk through that time (open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, at $5 for adults and kids 16 and under free). Over 130 different machines spanning the decades are displayed, and the folks who restore them love to share stories of the days when sleds didn’t have seat warmers! Share a story idea by email to [email protected] or write J. O’Malley, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Jack O'Malley <<< Do You Know Where This Is? Every co-op member who identifies the correct location of the photo at left by Feb. 10 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 credit for electricity from their electric co-op. We do not accept Mystery Photo guesses by phone. Enter your guess at countrylines.com or send by mail to: Country Lines Mystery Photo, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, 48864. Include the name on your account, address, phone number, and name of your co-op. Only those sending 14 complete information will be entered in the drawing. The winner will be announced in the March 2015 issue. The November-December contest winner is Keith Kettinger, of Lake Ann, a Cherryland Electric Cooperative member who correctly identified the photo as the blacksmith building at the Almira Historical Society Museum Nov/Dec Photo in Lake Ann. 1 Stop ICE DAM! New! 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